Raccoons and other vermin friends have not-so-subtly been trying to push humans out of New York over the years, ostensibly so they can cut down on the wait time over at Dominique Ansel and exact their revenge. And last night, one intrepid raccoon even managed to evade NYPD arrest, resting comfortably atop a ledge in Hell's Kitchen before fleeing towards sweet, sweet freedom. Clearly the Marvel Universe has some stake in the upcoming Raccoon Revolution.
Local journalist Megan Bungeroth took to Twitter to document the whole saga, which began at around 10 p.m. last night:
At a bar on 9th Ave watching the NYPD trying to take down a raccoon chillin on a ledge of an apartment building.
— Megan Bungeroth (@MeganBungeroth) October 3, 2014
#Raccoon pic.twitter.com/kh8p7bztFJ
— Megan Bungeroth (@MeganBungeroth) October 3, 2014
And it appears that The People were on Team Raccoon, despite the NYPD's attempts to exert power over the little guy:
The cops are trying to get it while 50 ppl are standing taking photos saying "don't kill it it's cute!" Which it is. pic.twitter.com/CFeGzSKyEM
— Megan Bungeroth (@MeganBungeroth) October 3, 2014
In the end, the raccoon won, forcing cops to head home with their tails between their legs.
Guys! #Raccoon escaped! He's free!!
— Megan Bungeroth (@MeganBungeroth) October 3, 2014
The crowd cheering for #TeamRaccoon pic.twitter.com/P5LZGzYA88
— Megan Bungeroth (@MeganBungeroth) October 3, 2014
And the NYPD puts away its cage, grim in defeat, in the knowledge that the raccoon hero of 9th Avenue glides into the pale blue night, free.
— Megan Bungeroth (@MeganBungeroth) October 3, 2014
And now Rocky Jr. is free to eat as many pairs of American Apparel disco jeans as he pleases.
I asked an officer, what happens if the raccoon escapes? "Well he lives in the wild, so he can't really escape. He just lives here." #truth
— Megan Bungeroth (@MeganBungeroth) October 3, 2014
According to Bungeroth, six NYPD officers, Animal Control and a paramedic failed to capture the elusive raccoon. A sanitation worker told her the crafty creature made a teasing anthropomorphic appearance earlier in the day. "He came around the corner walking around like a regular person," he said. "I said, 'Oh, raccoon, raccoon!' He got scared and ran up the tree." You can watch the whole interview below:
Fight the good fight, Hero Raccoon. Unless that fight happens to lead you into my apartment.